The Michigan Doily- Fridoy, July 22. 198-Pag.3
Pollack's remarks anger gays
BY ANNA SENKEVITCH
In a meeting with student groups
last Saturday, Democratic congres-
sional candidate and state Senator
Lana Pollack (D-Ann Arbor) called
endorsements from lesbian and gay
male rights groups "political sui-
cide." She added that while she
would accept backing from such
organizations, she does not want it,
and wouldn't list in any of her
literature.
After discussions with both Pol-
lack and her opponent, Rackham
graduate student Dean Baker, the
Lesbian and Gay Rights Organizing
Committee announced their endorse-
ment of Baker and their anger over
Pollack s remarks.
The two talks were arranged by
the newly-formed Coalition of
Loosely Organized Human Rights
Organizations, led by Brian Durrance
and Linda Kurtz of LaGROC.
Eleven students, representing six
organizations, met with Pollack for
about an hour at the Michigan
Union Student Counseling Office.
Student members also met Sunday
with Dean Baker at West Park,
where Baker gave a brief address in a
concert commemorating Nelson
Mandela's 70th birthday and the
ninth anniversary of the Nicaraguan
revolution.
Pollack has consistently refused
to participate in a debate with Baker.
CLOHRO particularly sought a
discussion with Pollack because its
LaGROC members had heard she
does not openly support the rights of
lesbians and gay men.
"Two years ago I asked her to
come speak at the Lesbian and Gay
Men's Pride Rally," Durrance said.
"She told me she couldn't because
she couldn't afford to be associated
with gay issues."
Pollack discomforted her student
audience, whose members repre-
sented predominantly lesbian and gay
men's groups, by saying she would
be neither a prime sponsor nor co-
sponsor for gay and lesbian civil
rights legislation.
"I wouldn't get re-elected," she
said.
on gay rights
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sotmawt trt. it o aks asier for Ot
on Lana Poiack
He eros-us Pollack for not takin
really pushi pis -ate petition ha
Site t£ed to so e wre riggig te
told Agenda she won't even tke part
n gay rights
Pollack says gay and lesbhan rights ar
interested in oital suicide at age4
majoritys kind- itlt asnt played the
other issues have. And I know ts a d
on Dean Baker
She says she doubts Bake's metht-ds
successful. I do sot lfleve that Dea
difference bf that role of.. a moveim
who serves within the electoral prsce
Pollack added that topics con-
cerning lesbian and gay men have
not played a "compelling" role in her
life. "My sexual orientation is of
the majority kind's. Gay and lesbian
rights simply are not on my AAMISTAD, which is building soil didn't hit it... or I pushed it too
agenda." and water testing plants in Managua. fast," she said. "It was a mistake.
She expressed a general chagrin Pollack and Baker in addition But my commitment to the choice
for taking risks both during her agreed on the need for national health position is very deep, very old...
campaigns and in a first term in care and health insurance programs, very consistent."
Congress. Pollack said she feels such coverage In its meeting with Baker,
"I know the electoral system well should come from private as well as CLOHRO asked the candidate about
enough to know its pitfalls and how public sources; Baker stressed the Pollack's assessments of gay and
to be successful," she said. "I am need to finance treatment for AIDS lesbian groups' endorsements.
much less interested in ...running patients through a nationwide, "It's not political suicide," Baker
educational campaigns. I want to federal government-financed pla. said. "How many people are going
win." She added, "You're a fool if Students asked Pollack about her to be outraged over a gay rights po-
sition who already aren't outraged
over Medicaid funding for abortion?"
Baker disagrees with Pollack's
stand on risktaking, and praised
former Democratic presidential can-
ts s "at u tavt tt sast didate Jesse Jackson for making
t us hiaon btt. 10 sirt
tet p P to do "progress on "risky" issues.
Ato ."You have to start somewhere,"
he said. "The fact that Jackson was
's and refism to de es"We're willing to take the real strong, open
rd, tcatse Lana s ru to debate stand... advances issues tremen-
orutat, which was a flat-out lie. She dously "
tst s wi tt lratt." Baker spoke about bringing some
of his own past activist approaches
to issues into the political system.
The combination of experience with
"outside movements" and a congres-
re o on tar atnda "I am not sional office, he said, "gives
a.. Myvs stu orttsaton is e of the positions that are in fact quite rea-
elinl rtl ti my life that so- sonable and (which) a lot of people
iisaitmttett" agree with much more legitimacy."
Pollack said she is confident of
and stands C be. poliially her chances at winning the August 2
in Baker has come iv terms with the primaryagainst B ker, fnd now al-
ent politician and that role as a person ready is focusing much of her con-
cerns on a race for the second district
spot against Republican incumbent
Carl Pursell.
you take risks during your first term recent failure to vote on the bill for But Baker referred to his 41
(in office). Medicaid funding for abortions. The percent showing in his 1986
Both candidates came out in favor Senator dismissed her no-vote as an Congressional race against Pursell
of cutting funding to El Salvador but accident with the electronic voting and said, "To try and calculate that
also support continuing economic machine. she's got better odds than we do ...
aid projects like Ann Arbor-based "I either hit the wrong button or I is just the height of absurdity."
Program bridges a
gap for students
BY SHEALA DURANT which exposes them to the three
Over 60 minority LSA first-year major disciplines of LSA (natural
students from throughout Michigan science, social science and humani-
are getting an academic head start on ties).
the rest of the class of '92, thanks to Bridge student Karen Bridges
the Comprehensive Studies Pro- said she hopes the program will help
gram's Bridge program. her develop better study habits and
The Bridge program, now in its get a feel'for the campus.
13th year, gives a select group of Darius McKinney, another
students a chance to start the fall Bridge student, said he likes the idea
term six to eight credits ahead of the of getting a head start as opposed to
average incoming first-year student. "coming to college in the fall and
CSP Associate Director, Terrence starting from scratch."
Brown said that Bridge students are The program also aims to combat
"exposed to basic survival skills to the isolation that many campus mi-
empower them to become master norities feel. Former Bridge partici-
students." pants said they formed lasting
Brown describes a "master stu- friendships while in the program.
dent" as "one who is in control, uses Roslyn Elkins, an LSA senior
their time effectively and sets majoring in English and a Bridge
goals." program Writing Skills Assistant,
The program runs from June 27 said when she first came to the Uni-
to August 18. Bridge students stay in versity she didn't know anybody,
Mary Markley and elect three but after a couple of days she met
classes: Math 103 or 109, English people that "I've just been friends
ECB or 125, and a CSP seminar with ever since."
ELLEN LEVY/Daily
Incoming first-year student Charisse Edwards gets advice on an English paper from
Mark Williams, a tutor in the Bridge Program.